UMN student robbed at gunpoint near Minneapolis campus, police say

A University of Minnesota student was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday morning roughly a block from the school's Minneapolis campus, police said.

University officials released a crime alert Thursday, the latest in a series of crimes on or near campus that has prompted U President Eric Kaler to promise an enhancement in campus security efforts.

The female student was walking to class about 9:20 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of 14th Avenue S.E. and Sixth Street S.E. when a man approached her, brandished a gun and demanded her backpack, according to the alert.

The man pulled the backpack from her and fled north on 14th Avenue. The backpack contained the student's wallet, iPhone and iPad.

The student did not report the crime for nearly 12 hours, the alert added, making the investigation difficult.

The suspect was described by the student as a black male, 20 to 25 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a heavy build. The student said he wore a black winter jacket and black sweater, black knit gloves, a black knit hat, black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and dirty black work boots.

Anyone with information should contact Minneapolis police at 612-692-8477.